Volunteer Spotlight: I Got into Fashion Week

Thoughts on NY Fashion Week from Future Fashion Professional, Molly Jodeit.

My name is Molly Jodeit (age 20) and I am a college student originally from Houston, Texas. I have grown up striving for the next best thing in fashion, closely sticking to trends of the season, and doing whatever i can possible to participate in the industry i just can’t seem to get enough. I think i got it from my grandmother who was a sucker for statement jewelry, Neiman Marcus Furs, and her crazy big hair.

For the NYFW Fall collections 2010 I had the chance to attend Georges Chakra, Andy and Debb, and Luca Luca, as well as working back stage at Lela Rose and Vassilios Kotstetsos! It was an absolute ball as well as great eye opener to the real world of fashion.

Although it hasn’t been my first fashion week to work backstage, it was my first time to actually attend a show as a guest!

I am a second year fashion major (Retail Merchandising to be exact) and attend the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. We have a program called University Fashion Group (UFG) led by elected Students who love the fashion. Over the years UFG has been the designated dressers for Lela Rose and Vassilios Kostetsos, but this year we emailed all the disigners as we have in the past and Georges Chakra responded by saying that he was set with dressers again, but asked if we wanted to attend the show (standing).

Standing is basically where you have an invitation to the show and once everyone who has a reserved seat has sat down, you may fill any empty seats (if all seats are taken you are guided to stand in the back). Luckily i got a second row seat (crazy luck) and i must say it is amazing how fast you can network.

Sitting in between two complete strangers and introducing yourself gets you that ticket to meeting the “in people,” a key factor.

I met a model named Justin who invited me to accompany him to Luca Luca and Andy and Debb, of course you accept an offer like that! Seeing these glamorous models gliding down the runway in these outstanding pieces made by these designers was a taste of heaven.

You are sitting there looking around receiving this full effect with the bright lights, hip music, beautiful people, and of course these newly designed garments that were so carefully created i mean the whole ambience made you feel important and special to be there.

I wore Pedro Garcia suede booties,my tight black skinny jeans, Joie long flowy black top, this amazing vintage fur scarf that fed out bright red tassels that go down to your knees, and my key essential to cold weather black wool J.Crew tailored Pea Coat with a print on the collar when flipped up. Of course my hair was down and teased with my natural make up and classic Ray bans.

You’ve got to go all out when you are in New York.

There are no limits, so when your packing for a trip like that you include all of those out of the box pieces in your closet that you consider “too risky” to wear on an everyday basis. Most of the people you tend to see at Fashion Week are magazine editors, store buyers, designers obviously, media companies, models, and photographers, many designers like to keep the celebrities at a minimum and keep the focus on them and their collections. Unfortunately no Anna Wintour or Rachel Zoe sightings.

Working Backstage

I’d have to say the best part of working backstage is seeing the whole behind the scenes as far as the adrenaline rush you get when dressing the models as they have three different looks, watching the hair/makeup process, filling swag bags, and seeing the designer face in high spirits as they walk onto the runway knowing they have completed in success.

Ms. Jodeit with some models... jealous?

The worst part of backstage is how fast the time goes by, you feel like it lasted two minutes which stinks, but you can’t complain…it is in fact a fast paced industry. The experience of traveling up to New York and having the chance to attend Fashion Week is just one way to get involved with the fashion industry. Internships, Blogs, fashion classes, research, email designers to ask if they need free help for events, studying current fashions, go to social events, just get involved! The key is networking! Meet people and get your name out.

I began a blog last summer called Elegant Chic Mod. It has been my guilty pleasure of expressing myself, updating on latest trends, and talking about events going on in the fashion industry. Although it is a fun hobby that I do in my spare time, it really does keep me up to date with the industry. It keeps me reeled in and only expands my knowledge of creating pictures, using different softwares, and most importantly building my imagination and creativity.

I strongly encourage those of you to follow whatever it is you love or have a passion for, fight to get it, because you will regret one day not persuing your dreams when you had the chance to. Don’t be lazy and think it will be handed to you, you must work for it! I wish all of the best.